Bernd joined me on this one. We left Brussel via Meise. On the Heirbaan the first short "Kasseienstrok" gives some Ronde van Vlaanderen feeling. And a really nasty one. The cobblestones are in bad shape. Even if it is just some 200m this one is quite tough.
For the rest this first part of the tour is good for rolling on relatively flat, well paved and hardly-any-traffic country roads. With the northern Brussels "skyline" (Atomium and Jette apartment blocks) will visible in the distance the feeling is already all countryside. For a good reason, Brussegem, Kobbegem and the following kilometres are really rural, despite the fact that the ring is just a few kilometres away.
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| Panoramic view on Heirbaan in Meise |
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| A bit further down the road, the Weyenberg in Merchtem |
So with Brussegem reached, the "Land van Asse Route" signposts will guide us trough back country roads and lots of up-and-down the small "Hellingen" - again a bit like on the Ronde but with less cobblestones. Fortunately. The only thing to pay attentioin to is not to always follow the signposts. E.g. in Kobbegem. The "official" route leads to an unpaved road, not suitable for roadbikes.
Anyway, the only not so great part to follow is a short part along the N9, the Gentsesteenweg into Asse. For the rest, I really enjoy this tour for the small roads, short but steep hills and even the short cobblestone parts. It's Flanders after all, so there has to be some "Kasseien", no?
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| relatively good "Kasseienstrok", the Strijdlandstraat in Merchtem |
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| Spring cycling on Eeckhoutweg in Merchtem - while real Austrians should be skiing |
Back in Brussegem, I decided to take another way back to Brussels and see if the new cycling path along Brusselsesteenweg is any good. Well, it is. Narrow but excelent new asphalt. But just until Wemmel where it's the usual concrete blocks again. Awful. But at least the way back into Brussels from Wemmel is a good new discoery. Looking forward to leave wintercycling behind.
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